We will have to wait and see who shapes up well in the friendly fixtures but here's my 17 at the moment.

1. Evalds
2. Vidot
3. Griffin
4. S'au
5. Carney
6. Lui
7. Dobson
8. Kopczak
9. Lee
10. Griffin
11. Murdock Masilla
12. Hauraki
13. Flanagan

14. Tomkins
15. Walne
16. Joseph
17. Haggerty

Don't see Griffin as a prop, might have been given the shirt just not big enough. Other than that pretty much where I'd go.

Still a prop light for me,

I can see the prop role changing with the reduction of interchanges. I think the position now lends itself more to players with a higher work rate and stamina rather than short impact stints of size and power. I can see some of the bigger props blowing out of their ar$es after 20-25 minutes because they aren't conditioned to play longer minutes. I think a good tactic with the rule change would be to make the oppositions props do a lot of tacking by running at them all the time.

I agree another prop would be most welcome though.

Forster and Krasniqi did little wrong last season imo...good solid hard working props who fit your brief......both around 16.5 stone ...mobile and capable of bigger spells on the pitch...think the days of the Salford version of the Paleaaesina type props are over .......a couple of big drives then blowing for air ...won't be much use anymore.

I agree I think they could potentially figure in the 17 as could another 4 or 5 in the squad.

I'd forgotten about Krasniqi, for me I'd have him in the 17 before Griffin, looks one of the modern type 13/props we see more and more of.

Can't see anybody worriying, about coming to the AJ Bell,with that lot.Just my opinion.I was reading an article the other week,it was about Brian Snape the best chairman the club as had in my life time.When he first became chairman he told the Reporter,he wanted a team of triers,then he realised that only took you so far,and that if you wanted to compete at the top table,you had to have good and great players.I certainly don't see any great players.

I think our first choice backline could trouble anyone. Forwards are hard workers which could be a good thing this season. That all depends on how the other clubs in SL adapt to the new rules. I think 'red eyes' is a little 'glass half empty' at this stage, but I understand the reasoning.

You can't go from E to A in a season or two. You can have a blank cheque book but if the foundations aren't right you'll fail to make any progress. It's all about getting right those things we don't see off the field that will make the difference to what we all want to see on the field.

If you don't have the cake recipe it's pointless buying any fancy toppings, as we have learned from experience.

Can't see O'Brien being left out the 17.

Do you see him figuring as a 9 and not a half then? Or do you think he'll be selected before Lui and Dobson? I just can't see us selecting 3 halfbacks and two hookers in the 17.

I don't think that starting 13 apart from Griffin looks that bad, as Butcher said the back line looks quite handy and if we manage to get lots of ball to the two wide players who knows.
Does anyone know when Vidots due?

Sau looks like the last chance saloon talking to from Sheens has made him pull his socks up, apears to be doing the old Salford favourite of "training the house down".
I'm expecting big things from him this year, even though I've doubted his ability as a top centre in the past.
I think we've easily got the makings of a top 8 providing we don't get too many injuries as the bench and squad depth concerns me, especially if we lose a couple of key players.

Olsi Krasniqi would be in the 17 for me, really impressed with him last season.

I think there will be some real competition for prop spots. We have several ambitious young props with potential and I'm sure they'll all be eager and working hard to nail down a place. It will be very interesting to see how this battle for selection unfolds. With Morley, Carvell and Sheen's himself a former prop to learn from, I'm sure they'll all be getting privileged tuition.

I see your point, before the Tompkins signing i'd of thought O'Brien or Lui would be the 2nd hooker as he's played this role for the cowboys however i've a sneaky feeling O'Brien could be utilized at Stand Off, Scrum half, hooker,Centre, and fullback so i think O'Brien must be picked at least as a substitute for his utility attributes. No other Salford player has this ability.